About Us

Welcome!

You’ve somehow found your way to the official 2009 Salinas Public Library Online Book Group! Here you can get turned on, at your leisure, to books that are new to you, as well as books that relate to the themes we promised to explore in league with our friends at the National Steinbeck Center, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Every month for the next year and a half, through comments and posts we’ll explore a different book. You’ll get a link to great books exploring various themes and ideas, and then be able to join in the conversation about the book through posting your comments right here at Salinas Stories!

By the way, just in case you weren’t up to speed yet, in October 2008 the Institute gave the Salinas Public Library and the National Steinbeck Center a grant in the amount of $713,899 to explore the history of Salinas and the knowledge that can be found here, through all kinds of cultural, and educational, programs and activities.

From online, and in-person, book groups to exciting talks to events that bring together as many of the different groups that are part and parcel of Salinas, to arts activities for children and families, to workshops that teach you how to gather your own personal history to preserve and share with the world, this grant is allowing us to bring you TWO YEARS of these great programs, and activities. And the best part?

IT’S ALL FREE TO YOU!

That’s right! All you have to do is click a link and read, post your comment, or just come on down to one of our three library branches (John Steinbeck, Cesar Chavez, El Gabilan) or the National Steinbeck Center at One Main St. in Downtown Salinas to be a part of it all. Don’t forget, if you don’t have your own library card yet, you can go to any one of our three branches, or our new BOOKMOBILE and get a brand new Library Card that features our new Centennial Logo!

Be an official part of the Library the people of Salinas saved! Be a part of history, and come to the Salinas Public Library today!

The Salinas Public Library’s NEW Centennial Logo

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by. Now go. Take a read and let us know what you think!

Salinas Stories: Cultivating Knowledge, Life & Literature in Salinas is a two-year collaboration of the Salinas Public Library and the National Steinbeck Center. This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Institute of Museum and Library services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,500 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. For more information please visit www.imls.gov